Beyond Los Cristianos..

Best Tenerife Beaches

It can be a popular misconception that ‘locals’ don’t do touristy things like go to the beach; Tinerfeños love an outing to the beach. Throughout summer, especially at weekends, the beaches onTenerife are full of locals enjoying the sun, sand and sea. However, if manicured beaches with perfectly aligned rows of sun beds leave you cold, don’t worry there are plenty of alternatives waiting to be discovered along Tenerife’s diverse coastline. Whether you’re seeking monster surf for a bit of body boarding, secluded coves and scenic shores to chill out, or have decided that the two-tone look is so eighties and it’s time that your white bits matched the rest of your body, Tenerife’s beaches have got the lot with plenty of nudist, black sand and golden sand beaches off the beaten track to suit; provided you know where to look…

Beaches on Tenerife:- Simple Sun Spots

El Puertito

Nestling between the resorts on the south and south west coasts, the bay at El Puertito is probably what Tenerife’s southern fishing hamlets looked like before the property developers moved in. Whitewashed buildings, a fish restaurant, aquamarine water, brightly coloured fishing boats and pale gold sand make you feel as though you’re on an island that hasn’t been discovered yet. It’s also popular with ‘unofficial’ campers during summer months. A simple, but picturesque spot to wiggle your toes in the sand; it’s close to resorts in geographical terms only.

Where is it? A small sign points the way from the TF47 just outside Armeñime on the road west to Los Gigantes.

Want to see more? Follow ‘Real Tenerife Island Drives’ route: Flower of the Valley.

Playa de los Abriguitos

The road to this beach leads through a new housing development which looks completely out of place in the barren pumice landscape. Fear not, a series of pale golden sand coves lapped by turquoise waters too tempting to resist dotted along the coast at Los Abades make for a heavenly spot to top up the tan and frolic in the surf.

Where is it? Take exit 18 sign posted Los Abades from the TF1 and follow the road to the coast.

Playa Grande

The nearby wind farm might suggest that Playa Grande at Punta de Abona might not be the most comfortable spot to go for that golden glow, but the quiet cream coloured sloping beach is protected by the headland which curves into the sea around the beach, keeping the water and the wind relatively calm. Paths lead to the fishing hamlet above the beach, the Abona lighthouse and a small jetty with an unusual fish sculpture.

Where is it? Take exit 17 from the TF1 sign posted Poris de Abona

Beaches on Tenerife:- Dark Delights

Playa Socorro

Medium sized beach of black volcanic sand, typical of many of the beaches in the north of the island, located on one of the most picturesque stretches of Tenerife’s coastline. The approach road winds through banana plantations and charming old haciendas to this very popular beach. On Sundays, during summer, you’ll struggle to find a space to park as cars line roadside for the kilometre or so up to the main road. The beach shelves gently into the rolling waves; perfect for people who like to keep their feet on the ground, but be warned this is a surfer’s beach, the waves here pack a punch. There’s a good little beach bar restaurant overlooking the beach.

Where is it? Follow the signs for Playa Socorro from the TF820 between Puerto de la Cruz and Icod de los Vinos, just beyond the San Pedro mirador.

Want to see more?   Follow ‘Real Tenerife Island Drives’ route: Here Be Dragos.

 

Watch a video of me surfing at:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=T2bgpBje1VA

 

Playa de las Arenas

An attractively laid out beach with plenty of parking and a unique looking restaurant, El Burgado. A pleasant coastal walk leads to a series of black sand and pebble beaches, rock pools and coves which lie below the Mirador de la Monja and the dramatic Teno Cliffs.

Where is it? The beach lies beyond Buenavista del Norte, beside the golf course of the same name.

Want to see more?   Follow ‘Real Tenerife Island Drives’ route: Hidden Valley.

Beaches on Tenerife:- Over Exposed

Playa Bollullo

Playa de el Pozo and Playa de los Patos: These three coves cut into the cliffs are accessed via a single track road, which can make manoeuvring past oncoming cars quite hairy. Persevere, it’s worth the effort. The reward is a beautiful black sand beach with tsunami sized waves and a great little beach bar overlooking the bay where time can disappear very easily, especially if you’ve got an ice cold cerveza in your hand. The more adventurous can follow the path along the coast to Playa Pozo and Playa de los Patos, nudist beaches popular with surfers and people who literally want to let it all hang out; unfortunately I’ve never seen anyone do both at the same time; now that would make a good photo.

Where is it? Just outside Puerto de la Cruz, a road leads almost from the TF5 exit 32 towards El Rincon.

Playa Las Gaviotas

Playa Las Gaviotas is almost always overshadowed by its sexier, tropical paradise neighbour; Las Teresitas. Las Teresitas might be man made with Saharan sand, but it’s probably the most stunning beach on the island; magnificent backdrop, golden sand, palms and calm crystal clear lagoon-like waters. However, if you prefer a more intimate setting where the only entry requirements are that you get your kit off, then bypass Las Teresitas and follow the road east to this small black sand nudist beach at the foot of the Anaga Massif.

Where is it? About 10 kilometres beyond Santa Cruz. Access is from the TF121. Parking is limited and the beach can get very busy in summer.

Want to see more?   Follow ‘Real Tenerife Island Drives’ route: Peaks into the Past

 

Tenerife Beaches – On the Beaten Track

 

There’s a saying which goes along the lines of ‘there are no difficult questions only those you know the answer to and those you don’t. Tenerife's beaches are similar, you either know them, or you don't.
So whilst the beaches mentioned above are more off the beaten track, even to the many people who visit Tenerife regularly, the following beaches have a higher profile. However, if you’re a new visitor to Tenerife, you may never have heard of some of them.

Beaches on Tenerife:- Golden Wonders

 

Playa de las Teresitas

The jewel in the crown of Tenerife’s beaches and without doubt the most spectacular. It’s many people’s idea of what a tropical beach should look like. A crescent shaped, lagoon-like bay with golden sand lapped by aquamarine waters teeming with tropical fish. Add palm trees and a dramatic mountain backdrop and you’ve got a perfect setting. There are changing rooms, toilets, bar restaurants and a large car park discreetly hidden behind the line of palms at the back of the beach. The man made reef makes the enclosed calm water ideal for families with young children. The only downside is that, being the east coast, it can be a tad breezy sometimes. Okay it’s a man made beach, but it looks great.

Where is it? Approx 8 kilometres beyond Santa Cruz.

Want to see more? Follow Real Tenerife Island Drives’ route ‘Peaks into the Past’.

 

El Médano

A rarity for a beach on Tenerife, a golden(ish) beach which isn’t man made. One of the longest beaches on Tenerife, book ended on one side by El Médano and Montaña Roja on the other. A bleached wooden boardwalk runs almost the length of the beach passing surreal pumice rock formations and scores of rainbow bright windsurfers and kite-boarders. The presence of these ‘surf dudes’ should warn you that the wind is a constant companion here. It might make pretty patterns in the sand, but it isn’t always ideal for sunbathing. One of the most interesting beaches on Tenerife.

Where is it? Right beside the town of the same name.

 Playa de la Tejita

Another pale golden beach so long and wide you could land a jumbo jet on it, which isn’t beyond the realms of possibility considering it’s right next to the airport. It’s another windy beach which makes it the ideal location for Granadilla’s annual kite festival in September. The Montaña Roja end of the beach is popular with nudists. Kite-flying and nude sunbathing…interesting combination.

Where is it? Beyond El Médano, on the other side of Montaña Roja.

 

Playa del Duque

Another man made affair which has been developed with panache and imagination. If a beach could feel upmarket, it’s this one. Small enough to feel intimate, it’s striped beach huts and palm frond umbrellas give it an air of St Tropez meets the Caribbean. The large volcanic rock which borders the beach’s southern side blocks out the concrete vista beyond.

Where is it? Located at the very western end of Playa de las Américas, (or as the PR people would say, the ‘exclusive’ resort of Costa Adeje).

 

Beaches on Tenerife:- Black Beauties

Playa Jardín

This ‘garden beach’ is a play area for visitors and locals alike. A kilometre of black sand backed by landscaped gardens runs from the San Felipe Castle to the Punta Brava. The waves here are big and bold, which is great fun for confident youngsters, but can take the legs away from unsuspecting, more mature paddlers. The beach shelves sharply into the sea at the Puerto de la Cruz end, less so at the Punta Brava end. In between there's a small area exclusively for surfers. The beach with the best view of Teide.

Where is it? Simple, in Puerto de la Cruz.

Playa de la Arena

Look at any decent map and you might find up to four ‘Playa de la Arenas’ around Tenerife’s coastline. It simply means ‘sandy beach’. The best one is found at the resort of the same name. A small, blue flag beach which is considered to be set in one of the nicest coves on Tenerife. With the most sunshine hours on the island, great views to the island of La Gomera and stunning sunsets, this is a sun worshipper’s dream.

Where is it? On Tenerife’s sunny west coast, near Los Gigantes, in the centre of the small resort of Playa de la Arena.

Want to see more? Follow Real Tenerife Island Drives’ route ‘Flower of the Valley’. 

Playa San Marcos

A local favourite. Some 70’s style apartment blocks on one side of the beach don’t make for the prettiest of vistas, but this small beach, beside a fishing harbour and backed by fish restaurants, has a certain charm. Plus it’s set in a sheltered inlet, which makes it suitable for kids.

Where is it? On the coast below Icod de los Vinos.

Want to see more? Follow Real Tenerife Island Drives’ route ‘Here Be Dragos’.

 

Beaches on Tenerife:- Cobbled Together

 

Playa San Juan

 

A pebbled beach set in a sheltered bay beside the town’s harbour. Although barely a half hour’s drive from the sprawling main southern resorts, this has a completely different character – more Canarian cool, than ‘kiss me quick’. Playa San Juan has a quiet style which will suit people who don’t like their beaches packed to the gunwales.

Where is it? On Tenerife’s southwest coast, on the road linking Los Gigantes with Playa de las Américas.

Want to see more? Follow Real Tenerife Island Drives’ route ‘Flower of the Valley’.